this is a discussion within the NFL Community Forum; Players 'getting robbed,' Viking says in interview
By Jeremy Fowler
jfowler@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 03/15/2011 11:50:17 PM CDT
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared NFL owners' treatment of players to &quot;modern-day slavery,&quot; according to an online interview published Tuesday by Yahoo! Sports.
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Vikings running back Adrian Peterson compared NFL owners' treatment of players to "modern-day slavery," according to an online interview published Tuesday by Yahoo! Sports.

Yahoo's Doug Farrar, who conducted the interview Friday with Peterson, removed that comment from the story later Tuesday, explaining on Twitter that he wants to give Peterson the chance to provide context.

Peterson, who is known to be thoughtful when speaking with the local media in Minnesota, is in Africa with other NFL players on a goodwill trip and unavailable for immediate comment.
NFL owners and players couldn't agree on a new collective bargaining agreement last week after more than two weeks of federal mediation. Shortly before the players union decertified, Peterson spoke to Yahoo to promote a recent appearance on the online reality show "Double Take." The NFL declared a lockout when the CBA expired.

"The players are getting robbed. They are," Peterson told Yahoo. "The owners are making so much money off of us to begin with. I don't know that I want to quote myself on that."

When discussing other players feeling the same way, Peterson said: "It's modern-day slavery, you know? People kind of laugh at that, but there are people working at regular jobs who get treated the same way, too. With all the money. ... The owners are trying to get a different percentage, and bring in more money. I understand that; these are business-minded people. Of course this is what they are going to want to do. I understand that; it's how they got to where they are now. But as players, we have to stand our ground and say, 'Hey, without us, there's no football.' "

It must be tough AP, being a $10,720,000 a year slave. Boo Hoo. Here's a quarter, call someone who frikkin cares. You don't like the way you're being treated, get another job. That's what I have to do.

I understand what he's trying to say but he of all people should know
whatever you say about slavery, race, religion, sexual orientation, will be taken out of context.

He should have said that although he's not poor, the people who pay him are getting more wealthy while his pay remains the same or potentially declines. Bottomline is the players need to keep their mouths shut because although they have physical skill, they lack the gift of diplomatic speech. They are losing fan support because of it.

I don't know much about corp law other than companies are getting away from paying dividends due to the taxes. They get taxed then the investors get taxed on their earnings. I'm not for either side on the issue on what is done with the revenue but their needs to be some form of profit sharing with the players. The owners are going to split 1 billion among themselves yet force the players to take a pay cut? It's their right to do so but that is a sure way to cause a major rift among your employees. And the product on the field is going to decline. The NFL will likely win but long term they will lose is the way I see it.

Fix the rookie salary cap, increase their pensions, make sure their health coverage last well into their retirement, maybe guarantee more years on contracts, and some other minor things. But if the players are looking for a 50/50 revenue sharing or anything of that nature, they can shove it up their blow hole. All they have to do is show up and play a game that they love to do. They don't have to worry about stadium cost, vendors, marketing, paying hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase the franchise, etc.

I'm a sonographer and it's like me going to my boss and saying you know what... I make you a lot of money and I want the money being brought in split 50/50. What kind of bullcrap is that? They wouldn't hesitate to fire my behind and find a replacement. It's funny how some of these players think they're irreplaceable... get a clue. If you don't want to play for millions of dollars, someone else will have no problem jumping on board and taking your place.